After months of labouring ceaselessly, it all comes down to this – welcome to Ovens and Murray finals. Billed as ‘the greatest show in country sports’ by the league, the next month of football and netball will pit the best of the best in the region against each other, with a premiership the uniting common goal. Wangaratta Magpies will headline the senior elimination final clash against the dangerous North Albury at Martin Park on Sunday, with nothing less than their season on the line. After a string of tough losses in the leadup to finals, the black and white shot back into form with a pair of tremendous wins, belting Wodonga Raiders by 10 goals and Albury by 79 points just last weekend. Wangaratta coach Jason Heatley said the ‘Pies had been playing some impressive football, even in matches where they may not have banked the four points. “We dropped three on the trot to three pretty good sides, and I think we played some good footy in there as well,” he said. “We’re always wary that our system can stand up, we just had to do it for longer and get some run into a few guys’ legs, and it’s starting to take shape now. “We’re probably going to go in healthier than we have been, which is great.” Michael Bordignon will be available and eager for selection after he was rested for the Tigers match, with a handful of other first-string talent getting back to their best. “Michael will absolutely play,” Heatley confirmed. “There are a probably a couple we’ll wait on - we’ve got the luxury of the extra day, so we don’t have to crunch many numbers. “It helps, you need them to be match-hardened to be able to get through.” North Albury have been in terrific form throughout the year, and after their four-game winning streak ended by Myrtleford last weekend by a single point, the Hoppers will be out to set the record straight and go deep into finals. Last time they met the Magpies was back in round 15, where the Hoppers took a 23-point win at home. “We think we match up pretty well,” Heatley said. “They’re obviously incredibly well led by their playing coach [Tim Broomhead], he’s a terrific player. “Young [Josh] Murphy and [Josh] Minogue down forward will obviously create some tension and headaches, they’ve got the Gardiner boys [Archer, Flynn and Foster] who are terrific players, they’ve got a backline that likes to move the footy. “I think they throw lots of challenges, to be fair. “That’s that roleplaying, that’s our expectation of our playing group - it’s nice we get the opportunity to have a look at finals adversity on Sunday.” The Magpies take on North Albury this Sunday at Martin Park, Wodonga, in their elimination final from 2pm. The match will almost certainly be watched by the Wangaratta Rovers, who flew through to the second week of finals thanks to their ladder-topping finish to the home and away match. There’ll still be plenty of local football and netball sides in action across the weekend. The Rovers Reserves take on Myrtleford Saints in Saturday’s qualifying final at Bunton Park, North Albury, right after the Magpies thirds’ clash with Lavington. It’s also a C grade netball derby final between Magpies and Rovers on Saturday, while the 17 and under Rovers take on the Saints. On Sunday, the 17 and under Magpies netball squad will fight to keep their season alive when they take on Lavington from 10am.
